| Author | Message | ||
     ajc Citizen Username: Ajc Post Number: 2479 Registered: 9-2001 |
Sorry, maybe you're right, it does sound a little snide, and I apologize... Very few ideas ever have universal appeal. I guess the point I was trying to make was the township has spent a lot of time and money looking at different locations all over town to put the skate park. Also, a group of parents have raised thousands of dollars toward the project for more than a year now, and there have been numerous public meetings on the subject, plus several threads as well. So, to the best of my knowledge, the TC had considered every park and piece of town property, and finally suggested DeHart Park as the best possibility at this time. Then, when I read your comment, “Something more central would be better” , without naming where that was, I figured it just had to be a secret.  As for putting it in Memorial Park, several of us looked and were unable to find a location that didn’t interfere with some other activity… Maybe you have a specific place in the park in mind? BTW, the truth is none of us make the right decisions 100% of the time, if we did, we wouldn't be human. | ||
| ajc Citizen Username: Ajc Post Number: 2480 Registered: 9-2001 |
"Hey maybe we can put the dog run in the Verizon bldg." Sure Jet, why not? The border between DeHart Park, the DPW, and the Verizon building, represents acres of property where the town can provide more services to our residents.... Thanks, great idea. The more services provided at the Verizon site the better. | ||
| Tom Reingold Citizen Username: Noglider Post Number: 2189 Registered: 1-2003  |
In the Verizon building? One man's far edge is another man's near edge of town. Mapquest seems to depict the center of town as the intersection of Burnett Terrace and Prospect St. All this discussion tries to find the perfect place for the police station. It's time to find a place. Tom Reingold the prissy-pants There is nothing | ||
| ajc Citizen Username: Ajc Post Number: 2482 Registered: 9-2001 |
Well, maybe Jet didn't actually mean IN the Verizon building? But who knows, there is a lot of space inside the building... As for the skate park issue, if the center of town is the intersection of Burnett Terrace and Prospect Street, then the Verizon building would be a quarter of the distance closer than the community pool, where the skate park is presently located, which reminds me of something.... Tom, as you suggest, we need to find the perfect place for the new police station. At this point, I'm still solidly behind the Verizon site, however, Saturday I had a discussion with someone at the Sage Diner, who still feels there's a possibility that the Green Acres issue of using a portion of the pool parking lot, and the Rescue Squad for the new police department, could be overcome. Personally, the more I think about it, the better I like the idea. The pool parking lot is only used a couple of months a year, and IF Green Acres was an issue, how is it the town can rent it out for NJ Transit parking, and the residents at Maplewood Garden Apartments the rest of the year? I heard there is an application that can be made to the State of New Jersey to consider this proposal. If anyone thought about it, how can paved parking lots and Green Acres be anything more than an oxymoron? Listen, if we were to take down the Rescue Squad Building, incorporate those services at both fire stations, and use a small portion of the pool parking lot; plus used our Eminent Domain Rights for the two less than desirable properties between the fire station and the pool diving tank for pool parking, we would more than offset any of the property used for the police department on the north side of Boyden Avenue... This plan would save the Verizon building for developers. It would also make Boyden Avenue from Springfield Avenue to Elmwood Avenue, all town property. Certainly parking would no longer be an issue, and I don’t believe many neighbors would find it more objectionable than having the 1,000 buses a week back and forth on Boyden Avenue, or the activity of the rescue squad coming and going 24/7… What say you all about suggestion #9,876,543.21? Would this be perfect or what? | ||
| Tom Reingold Citizen Username: Noglider Post Number: 2192 Registered: 1-2003 |
I do not feel that we need to find the perfect spot. I feel we need to put the issue to rest by ceasing to try to find the perfect spot and settling for a decent spot. I'll cruise down to Boyden Avenue and scope out your proposal. Tom Reingold the prissy-pants There is nothing | ||
| Joan Citizen Username: Joancrystal Post Number: 2499 Registered: 5-2001 |
Art: Your latest suggestion has merit (assuming all those buses don't interfere with the patrol cars). Tom: I agree. We need to build the Police Station as soon as possible. Trying to find the perfect location for it will only delay the process unnecessarily. | ||
| ajc Citizen Username: Ajc Post Number: 2484 Registered: 9-2001 |
Thank you guys... but I've only taken someone else's idea and built on it. It's this kind of input on MOL that can make the difference. The more people that get involved the more possibilities, and the faster the town can get on with their program. They're trying, but this is about community, and the more community that speaks up the better. As for the buses, you're right about them being a problem, however, that is mostly to the neighbor's who live along Boyden Avenue. The police are mostly out and about the town anyway, and would only need to turn on their lights to stop all the traffic. BTW, the more people that check these suggestions out, the faster we'll come to a conclusion as to where this will work best.... | ||
| Tom Reingold Citizen Username: Noglider Post Number: 2198 Registered: 1-2003 |
BTW, the more people that check these suggestions out, the faster we'll come to a conclusion as to where this will work best.... I almost disagree. Hearing how long this has been dragging out, I think it's time for the TC to make a decision so unpopular that they get voted out. There's no way to please the people, given how people can find fault in each plan. The police have been waiting. The Light doesn't even believe there will be a new station, and he probably speaks for others on the force, too.} Tom Reingold the prissy-pants There is nothing | ||
| ajc Citizen Username: Ajc Post Number: 2486 Registered: 9-2001 |
Tom, I went back over to the pool parking lot tonight hoping find you checking it out for the new police station... What happened? I can’t wait until you see the property under a different light. It’s like shopping at the Men’s Warehouse, “You’re going to like the way it looks, I’ll guarantee it!” | ||
| bobk Supporter Username: Bobk Post Number: 4750 Registered: 5-2001 |
I think we discussed the pool parking lot before. I believe to de-Green Acre the parking lot (and I agree a Green acres parking lot is an oxy-moron) an equivalent space has to be set aside as Green Acres. Possibly the Fire Station site and the adjoining rather run down properties might do it, even if used for pool parking. | ||
| ajc Citizen Username: Ajc Post Number: 2488 Registered: 9-2001 |
Thanks Bob... lets hope it's true. I'll check at Town Hall to see how to go about finding out. Anyone else who can find information on Green Acre regulations would be helpful. | ||
| bottomline Citizen Username: Bottomline Post Number: 58 Registered: 8-2003 |
The primary criterion for taking Green Acres property is to demonstrate that there are no alternatives within the municipality. Purchasing private property, whether on the open market or through condemnation, is considered a viable alternative from a Green Acres standpoint. Perhaps shifting a parking lot, as proposed here, could be accomplished somehow. However, both the intent and reality of the Green Acres legislation is to set a very high hurdle for relinquishing open and/or recreational spaces, including auxiliary uses such as parking. | ||
| ajc Citizen Username: Ajc Post Number: 2490 Registered: 9-2001 |
Bottomline, that sounds like this is a workable solution to the towns problem of locating the best place to build the new police station. Not to rain on anyone's parade, but who amongst us would like to form a committee to further pursue this possibility at the Rescue Squad Building and pool parking lot? Because of the Board of Adjustment hearing for my bed and breakfast settlement, I won't be able to attend the next TC study group meeting at the library on March 1st. However, I will be glad to help out in any other way needed... I'm also sure if some of us put are heads together, the town won't have to spend anymore of our tax money to study this location. There are already construction costs and building designs that can be used as an overlay at this location. I believe the issues are pretty straight forward, and I think we can name this tune in less than six notes... | ||
| Michael S. Koenemund Citizen Username: Kb1ckf_981 Post Number: 2 Registered: 12-2003 |
I may be wrong, but I don't believe that the township owns the property that the First Aid Squad and the pool lot is located on, I believe that it is an arrangement or lease from Ward Homestead/ Winchester Gardens. Again I may be wrong and if I am I'm sure I will be corrected. Support your local Volunteer Rescue Squad !!! http://www.SouthOrangeRescue.org | ||
| ajc Citizen Username: Ajc Post Number: 2496 Registered: 9-2001 |
Michael, I believe we're talking about town property here, but I'll double check... Listen, I do support our town volunteer rescue squad, however, I believe they can work just fine out of the new police building and the two fire stations in town. BTW, I picked up copies of town maps showing the properties. The overlay of the original police station plan works perfectly, and the properties between the tank and the fire station is much more than is needed to offset any Green Acre issues. | ||
| Montagnard Citizen Username: Montagnard Post Number: 447 Registered: 6-2003 |
If we could add in a little "Springfield Avenue improvement" at the Boyden intersection, the total effect could be very nice. Taking down those houses by the fire station would open up that area considerably. Personally, I like the idea of having a major public building on Springfield, but this is almost as good. | ||
| ajc Citizen Username: Ajc Post Number: 2502 Registered: 9-2001 |
"Taking down those houses by the fire station would open up that area considerably." What a great idea Montagnard, truthfully I never even considered the visual value of entering Maplewood from that side of town! You know what they say about first impressions... Anyone coming to our Award Winning Pool from the Avenue has to first be met by those two ugly looking eyesores. It always bothered me, even as a kid walking to Seth Boyden School. I just never thought about what anyone else thought about how depressing the entrance to Maplewood's recreational center looked... "Personally, I like the idea of having a major public building on Springfield, but this is almost as good." WOW!!! How right you are again Montagnard... Thank you, thank you, thank you! | ||
| dreamer Citizen Username: Dreamer Post Number: 9 Registered: 10-2003 |
lets be real. there is not going to be a new police station. we can argue and bicker all we want. when push comes to shove the town will give in everone demands and no building will ever be built. if you put the building in one place people are not happy, to much noise, to many cars, bringing the wrong eliment to their neighborhood. if you put it in another area you may effect a cricket in the park and you can not do that. plus the town will never spend the monies that are needed to do it right not half a---- like is always done. | ||
| ajc Citizen Username: Ajc Post Number: 2503 Registered: 9-2001 |
Dreamer, how would you like to take a swim in the community pool? Have you ever been there? Try it you'll like it... | ||
| extuscan Citizen Username: Extuscan Post Number: 263 Registered: 6-2001 |
We built the pool on what, I think it was Ward Homestead's golf course? We then "sold" the whole thing, parking lot included, to the Green Acres trust. Sold isn't the right word, but we got money for it. We can't build in the parking lot because its a park... But why not take a small piece of Winchester Gardens adjecent to all this parking on the far end of the pool lot that nobody uses except three hot days a year... And we get a police station... but use the existing parking. In any normal sense I wouldn't want to take parts of Ward Homestead, but now that its been bastardized into Winchester Gardens I don't mind. Result on tax base? Its undeveloped land... I'd say very little. ---John |
